Just as Russia shares a border with Ukraine, Vlad Krylov and Greg Tarnavskyi share a dorm room with each other at the University of Delaware.
But unlike their nations, Krylov who is Russian and Tarnavskyi, a Ukrainian national, stood united in Wilmington’s Rodney Square on Saturday as they protested the war in Ukraine, urging a small but prominent crowd to speak against Russia’s invasion and press American politicians to do more.
“Ukrainian people are our friends, Ukraine is our brother nation and this war is a disgrace,” Krylov said. “This event can change the world, including America because Ukraine is truly the last frontier of American leadership and symbol of freedom.”
People gathered at Rodney Square held signs condemning the war, such as “Save Ukraine,” “Stop Putin” and “Close the Sky,” referring to Ukraine’s request to NATO to implement a no-fly zone over the country and shoot down any Russian aircraft.
Krylov and Tarnavskyi said that they organized Saturday’s protest to express solidarity with Ukraine and garner the American public’s support to push U.S. politicians to stop “this huge conflict.” There is a misconception among the American people that this war will not impact them, they said.
Larry Agostini, a 78-year-old American standing in the crowd, expressed similar concerns and said the “United States is not doing more.”
“Our politicians are failing in their responsibility,” Agostini said. “They should have reacted a lot sooner since they knew this was coming months ago. The help that they are providing is just too little too late.”
Since Russia’s invasion, Tarnavaskyi’s family has been displaced. He said that his mother had to flee the country with his little sister, while his father and older siblings stayed back to defend their city.
NOTHING BUT TO CRY AND PRAY:Ukrainians in Delaware as they watch the invasion
“It is very tough because we have seen so much war since 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea,” Tarnavskyi said. “The Russian people can change it by protesting and overthrowing the fascist regime that Putin has built, and I think the Ukrainian nation will forgive them.”
For Vlad, Tarnavskyi is his “brother,” which he said is a common sentiment among many Russians towards the Ukrainian people.
“When Greg stormed into the room saying he [Vladimir Putin] started the war, it didn’t quite sink in,” Vlad said. “I am devastated. We were brother nations, the border was only a technicality because as a kid I used to go there all the time but now that relationship is ruined as a result of the Russian government’s actions.”
To donate in Ukraine: https://uahelp.monobank.ua/
